CHAPPELL BIRDIES FINAL HOLE TO WIN TEXAS OPEN
Chappell takes Texas Open for maiden PGA Tour title
LOS ANGELES: American Kevin Chappell sank an eight-foot birdie putt on the final hole to win the Texas Open, capturing his first US PGA Tour title in his 180th attempt.
Chappell fired a four-under 68 final round to finish 72 holes at San Antonio on 12-under 276, edging compatriot Brooks Koepka by a stroke with Americans Tony Finau and Kevin Tway sharing third on 279.
Chappell, a six-time PGA Tour runner-up, was seventh at the US Masters two weeks ago.
“I’m just excited I don’t have to answer the question,‘What do I have to do to win?’ again,” Chappell said. “There’s a lot of excitement, frustration and joy right now.”
Chappell found a bunker with his approach at the par-four 15th and missed a 13-foot par putt, taking a crucial bogey.
Koepka, who made seven birdies in the first 12 holes on his way to a final-round 65, sank a threefoot birdie putt at 18 to match Chappell for the lead.
But after Chappell missed birdie putts of 14 feet at the par-three 16th and 13 feet at the parfour 17th, he found the winning form on the final shot of the week.
“I was calm all day,” Chappell said. “Never freaked out. It was simple. Make four and you win the golf tournament.”
Chappell hopes the victory will launch him to a higher level, including consideration for this year’s Presidents Cup and next year’s Ryder Cup.
“Hopefully this is a platform to jump off of, to put myself in the conversation to make Ryders Cups and Presidents Cups and have my career really take off,” Chappell said.
Chappell sank a five-foot birdie putt at the parfive second hole and followed with an eight-foot birdie at the par-three third, but stumbled with a bogey at the par-four fifth, missing a six-foot par putt.
He bounced back by putting his approach four feet from the cup and making the putt at the parthree seventh, then began the back nine with a tap-in birdie.
Another tap-in birdie at the par-five 14th put Chappell two strokes ahead, setting the stage for the closing drama.
Australia’s Aaron Baddeley was fifth on 280 after a closing 68, with Aussie Cameron Smith, Americans Ryan Palmer and Brian Gay and South Korean Kang Sung sharing sixth on 281.
American Jimmy Walker, last year’s PGA Championship winner, finished on 283 to share 13th. — AFP